Monaco Country & Tourist Information

Location
Western Europe.

Area
1.95 sq km (0.75 sq miles).

Population
32,000 (2005).

Population Density
16,435 per sq km.

Capital
Monaco-Ville.
Population: 1034 (2000).

Government
Constitutional Monarchy. 
Recent history: Following the death of Prince Rainier in April 2005, his son Prince Albert II was enthroned in November 2005, ending a process that began when he was sworn in before his subjects in July. The Government of the Principality is controlled by the hereditary ruler Prince Albert II, under whom executive authority is exercised by a Minister of State. The Monegasque electorate elects the 18-member Conseil National (National Council) for a five-year term; the Council and the Prince share legislative power.

Language
French. Monégasque (a mixture of French Provençal and Italian Ligurian), English and Italian are also spoken. Native Monégasques make up only a minority of Monaco’s population.

Religion
95 per cent Roman Catholic (Monaco has a Catholic Bishop), with Anglican minorities.

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Minister of State Jean Paul Proust.

Head of State
Prince Albert II since 2005.

Telephone
Country code: 377.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Good coverage.

Internet
There are several Internet cafes.

Media
The influence of Monaco’s broadcast media extends far beyond its borders. Since the 1960s, Radio Monte-Carlo has reached listeners across much of France, and in the 1970s broadcasts to Italy began.


Post
Same rates as France. The main post office is at The Scala Palace, Beaumarchais Square. There are special Monégasque stamps.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1900, Sat 0800-1200.

Press
• There are no daily newspapers in Monaco, but French papers - and the tabloid magazines, cover news from the principality.
• The principal regional daily is Nice-Matin (which includes two pages on Monaco). Weekly publication, the Monaco Hebdo covers Monaco’s current affairs.
• The Journal de Monaco (website: www.gouv.mc/Dataweb/jourmon) an internal government journal, is published weekly.
• Other newspapers include Gazette Monaco-Côte d’Azur, Monaco Actualité and Monte Carlo Méditerranée.
• French newspapers are widely available, as are English books and magazines.
• The Riviera Reporter, the only English-language magazine for residents in the French Riviera, is published every two months.

Radio
• Radio Monte-Carlo (RMC) Info is a French-language network, Radio Monte-Carlo (RMC) is an Italian-language network.
• Riviera Radio is a privately-run English-language network.
• Radio Monte-Carlo Moyen Orient is a pan-Arab station, now based in Paris and operated by Radio France Internationale.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
Jan Saint-Devote’s Day.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
17 May Ascension.
28 May Whit Monday.
7 Jun Corpus Christi.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
19 Nov Monaco National Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
Jan Saint-Devote’s Day.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
17 May Ascension.
28 May Whit Monday.
7 Jun Corpus Christi.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
19 Nov Monaco National Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Contact Information:

Consulate General of the Principality of Monaco in the UK
4 Cromwell Place, London SW7 2JE, UK
Tel: (020) 7225 2679.
Website: www.monacoconsulate.uk.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1200 and 1400-1700.

Monaco Government Tourist & Convention Office in the UK
The Chambers of Chelsea Harbour, London SW10 0XF, UK
Tel: (020) 7352 9962 or 0500 006 114 (toll-free in UK).
Website: www.monaco-tourisme.com

Consulate General of the Principality of Monaco and Monaco Government Tourist Office in the USA
23rd Floor, 565 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 286 3330 (tourist office) or 286 0500 (consular section) or 1 800 753 9696.
Website: www.visitmonaco.com (tourism) or www.monaco-consulate.com (consular section).


Next Page »

Related Monaco Content